Lobbying

“New lobbying business slows to a trickle” by Byron Tau in Politico.

“For K St., nowhere to go but up” by Kevin Bogardus and Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“Under contract” in The Hill.

“Major Dem fundraiser closes lobby shop” by Megan R. Wilson in The Hill.

“ʹLobbyistʹ Not Curse Word to All Influencers” by Dave Levinthal in The Center for Public Integrity.

“Ex-congressman lobbies for group he used to fund” by Paul Singer in USA Today.

“SpaceX Launches Second Lobbying Team” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

San Francisco: “S.F. lobbying laws due for tightening” in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Campaign Finance

“Deals on campaign finance, corruption likely in Albany” by Yancey Roy in Newsday.

“All Senate Freshmen Now Have Personal PACs” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

Maine: “Use of ‘large, untraceable expenditures’ to influence Maine elections jumps 600 percent, report says” by Mario Moretto in the Bangor Daily News.

Michigan: “Legislature approves increase in campaign contributions, but says some donors can stay anonymous” by The Associated Press in Crain’s Detroit Business.

Missouri: “Nixon urges Missouri campaign contribution limits” by Bill Draper (Associated Press) in the Columbian Missourian.

Vermont: “Ruling on super PACs may ripple in Vt.” by Neal Goswami in the Times Argus.

Ethics

“The Year in Congressional Ethics | A Question of Ethics” by Simon Davidson in Roll Call.

Alabama: “Alabama ethics Director Jim Sumner wins national award for his work” by The Associated Press in The Republic.

Georgia: “Subpoenas related to Ga. gov’s ethics complaints” by Christina A. Cassidy (Associated Press) in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Kentucky: “Former lawmaker won’t face sanctions from House” by Roger Alford (Associated Press) in the San Francisco Chronicle.

West Virginia: “W.Va. ethics panel admits open meetings violation” by The Associated Press in The Herald Dispatch.

West Virginia: “For first time in years, Ethics Commission full” by Phil Kabler in the Charleston Gazette.

Open Government

“This Group Could Make (or Break?) FOIA Reform” by Joseph Marks in Nextgov.

Government Tech and Social Media

“The Future of Election Monitoring” by Jessica McKenzie in TechPresident.

The Hawaii State Ethics Commission issued an advisory last week urging public school employees to refrain from promoting charitable fundraisers at school.

The advisory was issued after Department of Education teachers and administrators were asked to support and encourage students to participate in a popular holiday fundraising campaign for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The state ethics code prohibits state employees from using work time and state resources for non-state related business purposes, which generally include supporting or promoting private charities.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s administration is currently at odds with the City Ethics Commission. Earlier in the year the Commission inquired as to whether the Department of the Corporation Counsel has the power and duty to advise city employees on matters of ethics.

In a memorandum to all municipal agencies, the Department announced it does have said authority; the Ethics Commission disagrees.

The administrative decision may potentially result in city attorneys and Ethics Commission attorneys offering conflicting advice. Also problematic, the Ethics Commission is insulated from retaliation as an autonomous agency, whereas city attorneys are afforded no such protection.

If nothing else, the memo is likely to cause public confusion as the relationship between administration and Commission deteriorates. Subpoenas may be on the horizon for Mayor Caldwell’s top executives as the Ethics Commission investigates possible corruption in city hall.

State school board member Bryan Williams resigned after allegedly violating provisions of the state ethics laws by lobbying the government for private interests. The law prohibits an elected member of a state board or commission from receiving compensation for services he or she performs personally on a matter before any state agency.

When first appointed to fill a vacant seat, an exemption in state law allowed Williams to simultaneously serve in a public position while advocating as a lobbyist. Upon his election in 2012, however, the exemption no longer applied. The Ohio Ethics Commission has not confirmed any investigation or future legal actions.

State Rep. Mike Reynolds filed hundreds of ethics complaints with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. The complaints, filed against candidates and legislators, call attention to what he believes is a lack of enforcement.

Most of the violations involved late filings of campaign contribution and expenditure reports. Reynolds reports he spent three weeks, using computer programs he developed, to analyze Ethics Commission data. Lee Slater, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission’s new executive director, declined to comment on the complaints. –

Lobbying

“Partying Within the Rules | K Street Files” by Kate Ackley in Roll Call.

“San Francisco sues former Supervisor Michael Yaki” by John Coté in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Campaign Finance

“Mitch McConnell’s Campaign Stumbles on Easy Steps” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

Delaware: “State prepares to roll out campaign finance website” by James Dawson on NPR.

New York: “Future Of Public Campaign Finance Uncertain” by Karen DeWitt in WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Ethics

Hawaii: “City’s lawyer subverting ethics panel, director says” by Gordon Y.K. Pang in the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

Kentucky: “Ethics Reporter: Celebrating 20 years of one of most comprehensive ethics laws in nation” by the Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission in KyForward.

Virginia: “Ethics reforms unlikely to include criminal penalties, Marshall says” by Andrew Cain in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Congress

“Play of the Day: The Do-Nothing Congress Sets a Record” by Reena Flores in Government Executive.

“ʹDo-Nothingʹ Label Belongs to Democrats, Boehner Says (Video)” by JM Rieger in Roll Call.

“Voting By Electronic Device — In the Senate?” by Niels Lesniewski in Roll Call.

Government Tech and Social Media

“Ruck.us Dies Down; Yet Another Political Social Network Goes Bust” by Micah Sifry in TechPresident.

“California Lt. Governor Wants Cloud and Open Data Policies” by Brian Heaton in Government Technology.

“In Ottawa, Open Data App Competition Mysteriously Disappears” by Jessica McKenzie in TechPresident.

“For Some Feds, the Mobile Revolution Means the Workday Never Ends” in NextGov.

Carol Carson is the executive director of the Connecticut Office of Government Accountability. In September she provided her Top 10 Tips at the Practising Law Institute’s Campaign Finance and Lobbying program in Washington, DC.

10.   Register. Register. Register.

9.     In Connecticut, you are required to wear your lobbying badge… So wear your lobbying badge.

8.     Keep contemporaneous records.

7.     Get advice from the agency. We are here to help.

6.     If you mess up, fess up.

5.     Don’t play us.

4.     Work with us.

3.     Lobbying is a self-policing industry.

2.     Video surveillance is everywhere.

1.   We would rather help you get it right then catch you doing it wrong.

We are huge fans of Carol Carson because she is out there working with the registered community to file accurate and timely reports. Everyone should use her Top 10 Tips to manage compliance.

It is a busy time of the year. Make sure your 2014 registrations are in order. Need help, call us. We Comply.

Thank you,

Elizabeth Bartz

President and CEO

@elizabethbartz

Lobbying

“K Street shop closing after three decades” by Kevin Bogardus in The Hill.

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

“Bottom Line” in The Hill.

“Lobbying Dollars Drop Off During Least Productive Congress” by Amanda Terkel in the Huffington Post.

“Intense lobbying threatens farm bill” by Dave Rogers in Politico.

California: “Local government, agencies ring up sizable lobbying tabs in D.C.” by Raju Chebium and Jeff Mitchell in The Californian.

Missouri: “Trips, golf and World Series tickets; Missouri lobbyists gifts surge in October” by Walker Moskop in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Campaign Finance

“Campaign-Finance Reformers Criticize SEC Move” by Thomas Catan in The Wall Street Journal.

“Donʹt support ʹcampaign finance reformʹ? Try combating ʹcorruptionʹ” by Michael Beckel in The Center for Public Integrity.

California: “San Bernardino to require online filing of campaign finance statements” by Ryan Hagen in The Sun.

District of Columbia: “DC Approves Campaign Finance Reforms” by Alisha Green in the Sunlight Foundation Blog.

Maryland: “Mizeur to accept public financing” by Michael Dresser in The Baltimore Sun.

Michigan: “Controversial Michigan campaign finance bill would double special interest group donation limits” by Jonathan Oosting in Michigan Live.

New York: “Mayoral campaigns to repay $6.8M in public matching funds” by Greg B. Smith in the New York Daily News.

New York: “Moreland Commission report draws reaction from both sides” by Karen Dewitt in WRVO Public Media.

Virginia: “$3 Million Funneled into Virginia’s November Election” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

Elections

“Elections Forecast Helps Kick Off NCSL Fall Forum” by Michael D. Hernandez in the NCSL Blog.

Lobbying

California: “Coachella Valley, Riverside County agencies spend big on lobbying” by Raju Chebium in The Desert Sun.

New Mexico: “New Mexico lawmakers commonly become lobbyists” by The Associated Press in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Oklahoma: “Lobbying limits in state up for debate” by Wayne Greene in Tulsa World.

Campaign Finance

“IRS should keep its mitts off ‘political activity’” editorial piece in the Arizona Republic.

“Feds target nonprofit campaign spending; practice spreads to Wyoming U.S. Senate race” by Karl Roerink in the Star-Tribune.

“Campaign Finance Disclosure” by Sandy Hausman on WVTF Public Radio.

“New PACs To Make Government Work with Bipartisanship” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

“FEC Slaps Jesse Jackson Jr. Committee with a $7,150 Fine” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call.

New York: “Albany’s campaign-finance law fight appears to cool” by Yancey Roy in Newsday.

New York: “NYPIRGʹs plan to fix corruption” by Dan O’Regan in the Legislative Gazette.

Ethics

“Ethics panel defers to Justice in Rep. Grimm probe” by The Associated Press in the Las Vegas Sun.

Nevada: “Nevada Supreme Court upholds ethics laws” by Sandra Chereb (Associated Press) in the Miami Herald.

South Carolina: “Lawmaker facing ethics case for use of state plane” by The Associated Press in The Morning News.

The Ohio Ethics Commission issued a new rule clarifying when another party may pay or reimburse a public official or employee for travel expenses. A public official or employee may accept a thing of value if it “is not of such a character as to manifest a substantial and improper influence on the traveler with respect to that person’s duties.”

A two-prong test has been put in place for determining whether travel expenses or reimbursements are of such character.

The rule overturns portions of two previously issued Ohio Ethics Commission Advisory Opinions. It also requires public officials or employees to disclose the source and amount of all travel expenses and reimbursements.

In honor of Thanksgiving and the short work week, we are publishing our weekly News You Can Use Digest today, instead of Friday.

Federal:

How Much Lobbying Is There in Washington? It’s DOUBLE What You Think

Sunlight Foundation – Tim LaPira | Published: 11/25/2013

The Sunlight Foundation attempted to find out the amount of lobbying that goes on in Washington D.C., but found that quantifying the number is needlessly difficult. It did say about half of those involved in policy advocacy – the term used in the analysis for people in the private sector getting paid to influence public policy, regardless if they meet the strict federal definition of “lobbyist” – did not report lobbying activities in 2012.

Obama Administration Proposes New Curbs on Campaigning by Tax-Exempt Groups

Wall Street Journal – John McKinnon and Brody Mullins | Published: 11/26/2013

Rules proposed by the Obama administration would curtail a broad array of tax-exempt entities’ political activities, including advertising and voter registration. The involvement in politics of groups organized under section 501(c)(4) of the tax code has been viewed by many as the biggest abuse of modern campaign finance rules. The process of completing the new regulations could take months, and officials said they expected a lot of feedback.

Stockman’s Filings Don’t Explain His Income

Houston Chronicle – Lise Olsen and Will Tucker | Published: 11/25/2013

U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman (R-Texas) has failed to properly disclose his financial dealings as candidate and member of Congress. A Houston Chronicle investigation shows Stockman has failed to file federally required expense documents since his 2012 campaign; those he did file were months late and only prompted more questions.

From the States and Municipalities:

California – Political Watchdog Seeks More Bite with New Law

San Francisco Chronicle – Melody Gutierrez | Published: 11/22/2013

The California Fair Political Practices Commission is trying to collect almost $3 million in past fines, and a new law that takes effect on January 1 will aide those efforts. The law allows tax and property liens, along with wage garnishments, for those who have outstanding fines. Commission officials said it can take more than a year to navigate civil courts to obtain those judgments, but under the new law, that time will be reduced to a few months.

Connecticut – After School Shooting, Newtown-Based Gun Industry Group Considered Leaving Town

Columbus Republic – Susan Haigh (Associated Press) | Published: 11/22/2013

The National Shooting Sports Foundation considered moving its offices from Newtown, Connecticut after last year’s shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. With employees confronted by angry neighbors and protesters appearing outside its headquarters, foundation officials said they had to determine whether having the name of Newtown associated with the organization would affect its mission to promote hunting and shooting sports.

Iowa – Iowa Ethics Board to Consider New Standards for Reviewing Donations from Trusts

Des Moines Register – Jason Noble | Published: 11/22/2013

Staff members for the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board will develop new standards for auditing PACS that receive contributions from entities other than individuals. The move could lead to new procedures for reviewing donations from trade associations, LLCs, partnerships, and trusts. The board will hear proposals for the new guidelines at its next meeting and could act to implement them at that time.

Louisiana – State Plans to Go After Bank Accounts, Licenses of Officials with Pending Ethics Fines, Treasurer Says

New Orleans Times Picayune – Lee Zurik (WVUE) and Manuel Torres | Published: 11/22/2013

Louisiana’s Debt Recovery Office will be used to crackdown on officials, political groups, and lobbyists that owe more than $1.2 million in ethics fines. The new office will have the power to collect money directly from the personal bank accounts of those with outstanding state debts. It also will be able to suspend debtors’ state licenses, including licenses for professional accreditations, and even for hunting and fishing.

Maryland – Brown Hosts Influential Guests in Redskins Stadium Skybox

Baltimore Sun – Luke Broadwater and Michael Dresser | Published: 11/22/2013

Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who is running for governor, has hosted lobbyists, campaign donors, and union leaders in the state’s skybox at FedEx Field for Washington Redskins’ games. Ethics rules prohibit politicians from accepting sporting tickets as gifts from those who do business with the state, but they say nothing about politicians distributing such tickets.

New Jersey – NJ Businesses Paying Top Dollar for Access to Republican Governors Association

Bergen Record – Melissa Hayes | Published: 11/24/2013

Of the $24 million the Republican Governors Association (RGA) raised in the first six months of the year, New Jersey benefactors gave $1.6 million. Montclair State University professor Brigid Harrison said corporations who see Gov. Chris Christie as a potential presidential candidate could increase their donations to the RGA while he is chairperson next year to get his attention and “curry favor” with someone who could go on to the White House.

New York – Legislators Seek to Kill Subpoenas

Albany Times Union – Rick Karlin and Jordan Carleo-Evangelist | Published: 11/22/2013

State lawmakers filed court papers to block subpoenas from the Moreland Commission on Public Corruption that seek information about elected officials’ sources of outside income. The central question is whether the century-old Moreland Act gives gubernatorial appointees the power to subpoena lawmakers, or whether the constitutional separation of powers provides protection from probes.

Oklahoma – Late Campaign Reports Rack Up $723,000 in Fees

Tulsa World – Barbara Hoberock and Curtis Killman | Published: 11/26/2013

A Tulsa World analysis indicates at least 2,700 campaign finance reports, amounting to about 10 percent of the total number filed in Oklahoma, were sent in late. The amount in late fees came to at least $723,300. The Oklahoma Ethics Commission will send notices to 250 PACs believed to owe penalties for not meeting the deadlines. The agency is looking at reports filed since August 2011, but has not ruled out going further back.

Virginia – Virginia Campaign Mailings Attract Scrutiny

Roanoke Times – Mike Gangloff | Published: 11/20/2013

An arrangement for low rates on campaign mailers that some Virginia General Assembly members and candidates describe as standard seems to violate U.S. Postal Service requirements, said Katina Fields, a spokesperson in the postal service’s Washington, D.C. headquarters. At issue is how closely state Democratic and Republican parties coordinate their activities with the individual campaigns of their candidates.

State and Federal Communications produces a weekly summary of national news, offering more than 80 articles per week focused on ethics, lobbying, and campaign finance.

News You Can Use is a news service provided at no charge only to clients of our online Executive Source Guides, or ALERTS™ consulting clients.

Lobbying

“Bottom Line” in The Hill.

“Lobbying World” in The Hill.

“How much lobbying is there in Washington? It’s DOUBLE what you think” by Tim LaPira in the Sunlight Foundation blog.

New York: “Albany query: Can political parties be considered lobbyists?” by Yancey Roy in Newsday.

Utah: “Lobbyist to Utah Legislature: Plan for Environmental Fights” by Ryan Cunningham on Utah Public Radio.

Campaign Finance

“FEC Proclaims: ‘Tis the Season for Holiday Greetings’” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

Arizona: “Dark Money – Specter of anonymous campaign spending looms over 2014” by Jeremy Duda in Arizona Capitol Times.

Maine: “Cutler accuses LePage of publishing campaign material on taxpayer dime” by Christopher Cousins in the Bangor Daily News.

Missouri: “Ethics commission sanctions Jefferson Co. Central Republican Committee, Voters for Good Government” by Leah Thorsen in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Pennsylvania: “Powerful Philly Union Accused of Funnelling Campaign Contributions” by Dave Davies on WCAU NBC 10 News.

Ethics

“Stock & Bond Transactions Reported By Wealthy Members of Congress” by Kent Cooper in Roll Call’s Political MoneyLine.

New York: “NYPIRG issues report on reform” by Casey Seiler in the Albany Times Union.

Texas: “Ethics Commission Chief Leaves for CPRIT” by Becca Aaronson in The Texas Tribune.

Elections

Florida: “Florida Special-Election Sprint Starts” by Abby Livingston in Roll Call.

The ethics board in Iowa issued an advisory opinion allowing political candidates in the state to use campaign funds to attend a presidential inauguration.

The board’s reasoning for its decision centered around the value to a candidate’s campaign of attending an inauguration event.

Under the opinion, a campaign committee can pay for the candidate’s travel and lodging, but cannot pay such expenses for anyone else.

The Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board is developing new auditing procedures for political committees receiving donations from entities. This action was likely prompted by the recent controversy over the funding of prominent PAC Iowans for Tax Relief, which was almost exclusively funded by trusts whose identities remained unknown until recently.

The ethics board also proposed legislation to be introduced when the legislature goes into session in January. The bill includes a $1,000 reporting threshold, and would allow campaigns to collect anonymous donations of up to $25. The bill would also require all campaign committees to file electronically by 2015.